All posts tagged Clydesdales

The day after the Super Bowl, the ads are as much a topic of discussion as the game. A 30-second spot during the game cost $3.8 billion – up 27% from 2011, according to Advertising Age. That spurred stiff competition to see which brands could create ads that resonated with viewers while promoting their products.

This year, there were fewer talking animals or babies. Some of the most memorable ads played on the emotions of viewers, rather than trying to make them laugh. Examples of this were Dodge Ram’s “God Made a Farmer” ad and Budweiser’s Clydesdale ad.

We asked Wall Street Journal readers on Twitter what they thought were the best and worst ads of the Super Bowl. To tweet us your opinion, use the #bestad or #worstad hashtags. You can also watch and rate all of the Super Bowl ads here.

Will consumers help save the Clydesdales from the metaphorical glue factory?

In a peculiar move, Anheuser-Busch InBev has decided to let consumers decide whether or not it airs a Clydesdale commercial in the Super Bowl.

Earlier this week, the world’s largest brewer by revenue said that it was seriously considering benching the majestic horses for the Big Game. The reason: the commercial it had created for the game didn’t test as well as other spots in focus groups.

The spot is an emotional story of a bull who envies his childhood friend, who grew up to be a Clydesdale. The bull eventually tries to join his pals.

Contemplating not running the spot was a surprising move since the creatures have long been among the more popular Super Bowl ads. Over the years, many well-known Super Bowl ads have included the popular ad icons. In one commercial they paid their respects to the victims of 9/11. In another ad they played a game of football in the snow.

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.